Paper dispenser



Dec. 7, 1937. E. T, BODETTE 2,101,307

PAPER DISPENSER Filed April 10, 1936 E0 VIM/90 72 500005 3005775.

Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UN STATES aiiaei PATENT FFHE PAPER DISPENSER pany, Port Edwards, Wis.,

Wisconsin a corporation of Application April 10, 1936, Serial No. 73,685

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispenser and more particularly to a dispenser for flat, non-inter leaved paper sheets, such as sheets of imitation or vegetable parchment used in wrapping up meats and the like.

It has heretofore been customary to dispense such sheets from a fiat stack of the sheets contained within a dispenser which may be supported either in a horizontal plane or in a vertical plane. The uppermost or outermost sheet of the stack is engaged between the thumb and finger inserted into the dispensing opening and the sheet gathered up for withdrawal through the opening.

In accordance with my present invention, a stack of flat sheets is supported upon a rounded follower plate or saddle in a suspended, looped position, whereby the outermost sheet may be more readily engaged between the thumb and finger by insertion thereof through the dispensing opening of the container. By making the follower plate and cooperating casing walls of conforming curvature, the engagement of the outermost sheet of the stack is facilitated and the sheets may more readily be withdrawn one at a time.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a dispenser of improved and novel construction for the dispensing of flat sheets of paper or the like from a stack of superimposed sheets.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a dispenser for paper and the like wherein the follower plate and cooperating walls of the dispenser are of conforming curvature to facilitate the grasping of the outermost sheet and the removal of the sheets one at a time.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a dispenser of hinged wall construction and having pivotally mounted therein a follower member swingable as a unit through the side of the casing when the hinged wall is opened up, whereby the filling of the dispenser .with sheet material is facilitated.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is an isometric elevational view of a dispenser embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse enlarged sectional view showing the operation in dotted lines.

' Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same.

As shown on the drawing: 5

The reference numeral indicates generally a dispenser of my invention. Said dispenser is suitably formed of stamped sheet metal with integral end walls H and I2, bottom wall l3 and a side wall M. A second side wall !5 is hinged, 10 as at I8, near the top of the end walls I l and I2. Said hinged side wall I5 is provided at its end edges with flanges I! overlying the end walls II and i2 and provided with embossed portions l8 for frictional engagement therewith to hold the 15 side wall in closed position.

The side walls !4 and i5 are provided with converging, smoothly rounded portions I9 and 2! the opposed margins of which are cut away the full length of the dispenser to provide an 20 elongated dispensing opening 2|. Said dispensing opening 2i is centrally enlarged as at 22 toprovide room for the insertion of a thumb and finger to grasp a sheet 23 presented at said opening. In order to facilitate the removal of the 25 uppermost sheet 23 without tearing the same, the margins of the rounded wall portions l9 and 20 are provided with upstanding rounded flanges 24.

A pair of spaced ears 25 are struck up from 30 the bottom wall IE to provide the base for a pivotally mounted follower unit indicated generally by the reference numeral 26. Said follower unit 26 comprises a pair of rods or posts 21 having their lower ends bent in opposite direc- 35 tions and extending through openings in said ears 25 for pivotal movement about said ears. Each of said rods 21 extends through a flange 28 formed integrally along the lower edge of a follower plate 29. Said follower plate 29 also has 40 struck therefrom ears 30 that are apertured to receive the upper ends of said rods 21. A coiled spring 3| is positioned about each of the rods 21 between a fixed pin 32 passing through said rods 21 and the ears 30. Said spring 3! thus acts continuously to urge the follower plate 29 upwardly toward the dispensing opening 2|.

The upper portion of the said follower plate 29 is smoothly rounded, as at 33, to be of gen- 50 erally conforming curvature with the rounded wall portions, l9 and 20. A stack 34 of superimposed sheets similar to sheet 23 is adapted to be supported by the follower plate 29 in a looped condition and with the closed portion of the 5 looped sheets presented toward the dispensing opening 2|.

In order to fill the dispenser Ill, the side wall I is swung into elevated position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the follower unit 26 is swung out through the opening provided thereby into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. While in such position, a stack of superimposed flat sheets is placed over the rounded surface 33 of said follower plate 29 and the follower unit then moved back into the dispenser and the side wall I5 lowered and snapped into closed position. The spring 3| acts to center the stack 34 of superimposed sheets with respect to the dispensing opening and to present successive sheets for dispensing through such opening.

It will be understood that a dispenser such as described may be made in various sizes and that any given size of dispenser will permit the dispensing of different sizes of sheets. As shown in Fig. 2, the sheetsare supported on the follower plate 29 with their ends raised above the bottom wall l3, but with a larger stack of sheets, orwith longer sheets, the edges of the sheets may reach substantially to the bottom Wall [3. Furthermore, although the dispenser has been described in connection with a stack of non-interleaved flat sheets, it will be understood that the sheets may be interleaved and so arranged as to present a free edge through the dispensing opening 2|, or instead of flat sheets, folded sheets, such as folded paper napkins or the like, may be dispensed from the device shown. The dispenser is of particular use and advantage, however, in connection with the dispensing of flat, non-interleaved sheets of paper, such as vegetable or imitation parchment.

Although the dispenser is shown as resting upon the bottom wall I3, it will be understood that it can be suspended from a vertical wall or other support, as convenient.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may. be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a casing having an elongated discharge aperture at its upper end, said aperture being defined by a rounded stationary part of the casing and by a rounded part of a wall hinged adjacent the aperture to open up to provide an opening for inserting a stack of sheets in said casing, a follower member in the form of a rounded saddle for supporting a stack of sheets suspended in looped position over it, means pivotally mounted within said casing for supporting said saddle, spring means on said supporting means acting against said saddle to urge it towards said aperture to maintain the stack of sheets in dispensing relation with respect to said aperture, said saddle and said supporting means being swingable as a unit to project said saddle through the opening provided when said hinged wall is opened up to a position to receive a fresh stack of sheets looped over said saddle, and said saddle having a part against which portions of a stack of sheets rest while said saddle is projected through said opening in receiving position to prevent contact of the stack of sheets with the saddle supporting means.

2. A dispenser comprising a casing having a pair of side walls provided with smoothly rounded portions spaced apart to form an elongated dispensing opening, one of said side walls being hinged to be opened up so that said casing may be loaded with a stack of sheets, a follower including a plate rounded to substantially conform to the rounded portions of said side walls and over which a stack of sheets may be looped with portions of the sheets depending from the plate, a pivotally mounted support for said follower enabling the swing of said plate through the opening provided when said side wall is opened up to present the plate in position to receive a fresh stack of sheets, and said plate having a part against which portions of a supported stack of sheets rest to prevent contact of the supported stack of sheets with said follower support.

3. A' dispenser comprising a casing having a pair of side walls provided with smoothly rounded portions spaced apart to form an elongated dispensing opening, one of said side Walls being hinged adjacent the dispensing opening to permit the casing to be opened up to receive a stack of sheets to be dispensed, a follower plate of less width than said casing and movable within said casing and curved to substantially correspond with the rounded portions of said side walls for receiving a stack of sheets looped over and depending from said plate, spring means urging said follower plate toward said dispensing opening, a support for said follower plate pivotally mounted from a wall of said casing opposite said dispensing opening and adapted to be swung to project the follower plate outwardly of said casing when said hinged wall is opened up to facilitate the loading of said follower plate with a fresh stack of sheets, and said follower plate having a part against which portions of a stack of sheets rest while said follower plate is projected through said opening in receiving position to prevent'contact of the stack of sheets with said follower support.

4. A paper sheet dispenser formed of stamped sheet metal comprising a casing having rounded walls defining an elongated dispensing opening in'the top of the casing, one of said walls being hinged adjacent said opening to be opened up to allow the casing to be loaded with a stack of sheets, a follower plate having a rounded surface for supporting a stack of paper sheets looped over said follower in dispensing relation with respect to said opening, the casing wall opposite said opening having ears struck inwardly therefrom, posts pivotally mounted from said ears and supporting said follower plate to permit swinging of said follower plate outwardly of said casing when said one wall is opened up to present said plate in position to receive a stack of sheets, and springs coiled about said posts for urging said follower plate toward said dispensing opening, said springs at similar ends being secured "to said posts and at the other ends acting against said plate.

5. A paper sheet dispenser formed, of stamped sheet metal, comprising a casing having rounded walls defining an elongated dispensing opening, one of said walls being hinged adjacent the ends of said opening to permit said wall to be opened up for the filling of said dispenser, a follower plate having a rounded surface for supporting a stack of paper sheets in dispensing relation to said opening, the casing wall opposite said opening having ears struck inwardly therefrom, posts pivotally mounted from said ears and supporting saddle to receive a fresh stack of sheets looped said follower plate, said posts and supported follower plate being swingable as a unit through the opening provided when said hinged wall is opened up to receive a fresh stack of sheets, and springs cooperatively mounted on said posts to urge said follower plate toward said dispensing opening.

6. A dispenser for a stack of non-interleaved fiat sheets of paper comprising a casing having an elongated dispensing opening in its upper end defined by the cut away margins of convergingly rounded walls, a follower plate having a correspondingly rounded surface for receiving a stack of sheets in suspended position looped thereover, said casing having a wall thereof hinged to be opened up to provide an opening into which the follower plate is swung in position for loading with a stack of sheets, pivotally mounted supporting posts for said follower plate tiltable to move said plate into loading position, and springs surrounding and cooperatively supported by said posts to urge said follower plate and supported stack of sheets toward said dispensing opening and center the same with respect to the opening.

'7. A dispenser for a stack of non-interleaved flat sheets of paper, comprising a casing having an elongated dispensing opening in its upper end defined by the cut away margins of converging rounded walls, one of said walls being hinged adjacent the ends of said opening to permit said casing to be opened up for filling the same with a stack of sheets, a follower plate having a correspondingly rounded surface for receiving 'a stack of sheets in suspended position looped thereover, a pivotally mounted support including posts for said follower plate tiltable into leading position when said one wall is opened up and springs surrounding and cooperatively mounted on said posts and adapted to urge said follower plate and supported stack of sheets toward said dispensing opening and center the same with respect thereto.

8. A dispenser for a stack of non-interleaved flat sheets of paper; comprising a casing having an elongated dispensing aperture at its upper end defined by the cutaway mar-gins of converging rounded walls; one of said walls being hinged adjacent the ends of said aperture to permit said one wall to be swung away from normal, closed position to open the casing for filling the same with a stack of sheets; a follower or saddle member having a correspondingly rounded surface for receiving a stack of sheets in suspended, looped and depending position; means supporting said saddle member and normally urging it towards said aperture to conform the stack of sheets thereon to the rounded walls adjacent said aperture; and said supporting means being tiltable to move said saddle member to loading position away from said aperture when said one wall is swung away from its normal, closed position.

9. A dispenser comprising a box-like structure adapted to be set on a table or shelf in erect position and having an elongated discharge aperture at its upper end, said casing having rounded walls defining said aperture, one of said walls being hinged adjacent the ends of said aperture whereby said one wall may be opened up to provide an opening for filling said dispenser, a follower comprising a rounded saddle for supporting a stack of sheets looped over said saddle in dispensing relation to said aperture, means mounting said saddle to swing about a horizontal axis to present said saddle in the opening provided when said one wall is opened up to position said over it while in said position, and springs having similar ends secured to said mounting means and other ends engaging said follower for urging the saddle and looped sheets against said aperture.

10. A dispenser comprising a box-like structure adapted to beset on a table or shelf in erect position and having an elongated discharge aperture at its upper end, said casing having rounded walls defining said aperture, one of said walls being hinged adjacent the ends of said aperture whereby said one wall may be opened up to provide an opening for filling said dispenser, a follower comprising a rounded saddle for supporting a stack of sheets looped over said saddle in dispensing relation to said aperture, a follower support including posts pivoted to the bottom of said casing to swing on a horizontal axis, said follower being guided on and movable along said posts, and springs having similar ends fixed to said posts and other ends engaging said follower for urging said follower and sheets towards said aperture.

11. A dispenser comprising a box-like structure adapted to be set on a table or shelf in erect position and having an elongated discharge aperture at its upper end, said casing having rounded walls defining said aperture, one of said walls being hinged adjacent the ends of said aperture whereby said one wall may be opened up to provide an opening for filling said dispenser, a follower comprising a rounded saddle for supporting-a stack of sheets looped over said saddle in dispensing relation to said aperture, a follower support including posts pivoted to the bottom of said casing to swing on a horizontal axis, said follower having an apron portion along and spaced from said posts to prevent contact of portions of looped sheets with said posts, said follower and said follower support being swingable as a unit about a horizontal axis to present said follower in the opening provided when said one wall is opened up to position the follower to receive a fresh stack of sheets looped over it while in said position with a portion of the looped sheets against said apron, and springs cooperatively mounted on said posts for urging said follower and sheets towards said dispensing opening.

12. A dispenser comprising a box-like structure adapted to be set on a table or shelf in erect position and having an elongated discharge aperture at its upper end, said casing having rounded walls defining said aperture, one of said walls being hinged adjacent the ends of said aperture whereby said one wall may be opened up to provide an opening for filling said dispenser, a follower comprising a rounded saddle for supporting a stack of sheets looped over said saddle in dispensing relation to said aperture, a follower support including posts pivoted to the bottom of said casing to swing on a horizontal axis, said follower having an apron portion along and spaced from said posts to prevent contact of portions of looped sheets with said posts, said follower and said follower support being swingable as a unit about a horizontal axis to present said follower in the opening provided when said one wall is opened up to position the follower to receive a fresh stack of sheets looped over it while in said position with a portion of the looped sheets against said apron, and springs cooperatively mounted on said posts for urging said follower and sheets towards said dispensing opening, said apron having apertured portions deformed from saddle, posts guiding and supporting said saddle, said saddle having apertured portions receiving said posts, and springs fixed at similar ends to said posts and acting against certain portions 01 the saddle for urging said saddle and sheets towards a dispensing opening.

EDWARD THEODORE BODETTE. 

